The urgent appeal was issued in the lead-up to International Earth Day (Saturday, April 22).
According to preliminary forecasts from environmental agency ISPRA, greenhouse gas emissions in Italy were around 418 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2022, virtually the same as 2021, despite a big fall in energy consumption due to the COVID lockdowns.
There was a significant rise in carbon use and a collapse in hydroelectric production, down 38 per cent, and back to 1950s levels due to the severe drought that has hit Italy and with renewables stuck at just 35 per cent of total national energy production.
Solar and wind power were up 3 GW but Italy was still well behind most countries in Europe for these sources.
ANSA
